2017 Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino 750 ml

By this time in 2020 and 2021, we’d released a slew of Brunellos from 2015 and 2016. The reason is simple: Those flawless seasons produced so many excellent wines that it was a free-for-all for Brunello lovers and collectors. 

The 2017 vintage was different. The 2017s reward the discerning. 

That’s because not every winemaker made all the right moves in response to Tuscany’s hot, dry 2017 season—and you’d be shocked at how many iconic estates didn’t quite meet the moment. We’ve tasted and passed over a dozen Brunellos from what are normally slam-dunk producers, looking for the “shining stars” that Wine Enthusiast called out in their 2017 Brunello report. 

So far, we’ve found just two. The first we released was the iconic Altesino, a no-brainer in just about every vintage. The second is today’s 2017 Brunello from Castello di Romitorio.

Romitorio has long been a member-favorite, and this bottle blew us away when we tasted it in Tuscany a few months ago. Made under the watch of Carlo Ferrini, the consulting winemaker Decanter calls an “Italian Master,” it packs power and structure, livened by a beautiful elegance and freshness that make it hands down one of the top Brunello picks of the vintage. 

The 2017 showcases Ferrini’s skills and the rugged Romitorio terroir, erupting with aromas of red cherry, rich plum, and a classic Tuscan medley of tobacco, violets, and leathery spice. Add to that a silky, red-fruited palate with a long finish built on tight-knit tannins and it stands at the head of the 2017 class.